and Revision of the South American Elaps. 163 



irregularis ; and this is common to Southern and Western 

 Africa. 



The last-named genus, Polemon, has been lately made known 

 by Prof. Jan in the ' Revue et Magasin de Zool.' 1858, Decem- 

 ber, p. 525, where he commences an abstract of the MS. of his 

 ' Iconographie descriptive des Ophidiens.' As I have lately 

 paid much attention to this order of animals, I may be allowed 

 to make a few remarks on Prof. Jan's mode of treating his 

 subject. Herpetologists who may refer to his paper will be 

 surprised to find that neither the Collection of the British Mu- 

 seum (which, as well as those of Paris and Leyden, is distin- 

 guished for its large series of snakes), nor the publications based 

 on that Collection and published prior to Prof. Jan's labours, 

 are mentioned in it. On this poiut the following statement 

 will suffice *. Prof. Jan examined the specimens on the spot, 

 but after having done so, declared to me that, " if he could not 

 take them to Milan, he would omit them in his work." I 

 thought, nevertheless, the time spent w T as compensated for by 

 the identification of some synonyms in my Catalogue, and of 



* When Professor Jan requested permission to take with him to Milan 

 the type-specimens of the species of snakes which had been described from 

 the Museum specimens, and also some other snakes which were interesting 

 to him, I informed him that it was against the rules of the Museum to 

 allow any such specimens to leave the walls of the Establishment, and that 

 I could not recommend the Trustees to make an exception and accede to 

 his request, as I considered the ride a very proper and sensible one, for the 

 following among other reasons : — 



1. It would be very inconvenient to any herpetologist who might 

 come to examine the snakes, to be informed that the specimens which he 

 wished to see were gone to Milan or any other place, — an inconvenience I 

 have myself experienced when I have made an excursion, for the purpose 

 of examining certain type-specimens, to Paris or some other museum 

 where such loan of specimens is permitted. 



2. It is very difficult to make sure, even with the very best intention on 

 the part of the person who borrows the specimens, that they will be re- 

 turned within a reasonable time, if at all. I should like to know, for 

 example, in the present state of Northern Italy, if such a loan would not 

 have been attended with great risk. 



3. The manner in which the British Museum is consulted is so different 

 from that of any continental institution, that a rule, such as that of lending 

 specimens, which may not be very objectionable there, where the persons 

 who consult the specimens are few and known, would be very objection- 

 able and impossible here, where any specimen may be asked for at am 

 moment, and expected to be forthcoming. 



Being desirous of giving Professor Jan all the assistance in my power, 

 even during my abseuce, I directed that he should have every facility to 

 examine and make a drawing of any specimen which was interesting to 

 him ; and that if he would mark any specimens he might like to have 

 figured, and leave or send an example of the kind of figures he might 

 desire, I would have them made for him as soon as they could be exe- 

 cuted, and send them to him for his work. — J. E. Gray. 



11* 



